The Saluting Demon

A mischievous demonic figure created by cartoonist Wally Wallgren, The Saluting Demon emerged from humorous illustrations depicting American Expeditionary Forces life during World War I, serving as a sardonic, patriotic mascot-like presence in military cartoon collections.

Few characters can claim roots as deep as The Saluting Demon, who first snapped to attention in Wally Wallgren's 1919 collection Wally - His Cartoons of the A.E.F. — a true Platinum Age original born from the crucible of the First World War. Over a remarkable 75-year publishing life stretching all the way to 1994, this devilish figure accumulated 88 catalog appearances across titles including The American Legion and Sparky Watts, sharing pages with the likes of Uncle Sam, Adolf Hitler, and Hoosegow Herman along the way — company that speaks to a character woven into the fabric of American military and satirical cartooning. Two of those appearances carry key-issue status, cementing a collector significance that mirrors the character's surprising longevity. For fans of early comics history and the irreverent cartoon tradition that predates the superhero age, The Saluting Demon is a genuinely fascinating piece of the puzzle.